Sri Azagiyamanavalanin Alum Pallaakku! 11th day of Adhi bramothsavam

[Guest guest]

Dear Srirangangasri members and friends, My Saashtaanga Namaskaram to Periya perumal and Sri Periya Paratiyaar I pray to our Nam perumal and Sriranga Naachiyaar to bless all of us with Prosperity, Happiness, and purify us from all the evil thoughts.

   Today our Dear Shri Azhagiya Manavalan appears in " Aalum Pallaku " . Pallaku is nothing with a Palanquin. This palanquin in decorated by Vrukshika or Shenbaga flowers. There is a reason as to why this flower is chosen and I wish to share it with you today. During Shri Krishna Avatar there lived a girl named Tharangini who had immense devotion towards Lord Krishna. Since she was born amongst the lower caste she was forbidden from even getting near Krishna. She used to stand far away from the Lord and enjoy the melodies from his flute. One day Krishna was with his friends laughing and playing his flute. It is a well known fact that the Lord loves to test the conviction of his devotees and he decided to test Tharangini by leaving his flute at that place. Later that day Tharangini came to that place to pay respect to the spot where Krishna stood. She found the flute and did not know what to do with it. She wrapped it with a silk cloth without touching it and placed it on sieve. She took it to her place thinking " Hey Krishna this is your property. I will keep this till you come and ask for it. Till then I shall offer my prayers to it daily " . As per her thinking she offered her prayers to it daily.

 One day Krishna came searching to the same spot where he had left his flute. There was a sharp fragrance of flowers which attracted him. Following the scent he comes to Tharangini's abode. Shrimad Bhagavadham describes it beautifully and Anna Sri Rangaraja Bhattar said " It was a slum, In the slum it was the marshy land, In the marshes was this hut. The roof had thousand's of Surya looking through it " . Krishna asked Tharangini to return his flute. Looking at Krishna Tharangini rushed to hide. She refused to come out and return the flute to Krishna. Sri Krishna said that until she came out and gave it he would not leave the place.Finally Tharangini yielded to his request and handed over the flute to him. On getting back his flute Krishna asked her if he could play his flute for her.On hearing this Tharangini joy knew no bounds. Krishna started playing a tune for her. Balarama noticed this and he reported to his mother Yashoda that Krishna was in the middle of the slums with a lower caste girl.

Yashoda got furious about this and came searching for Krishna. She yelled out the name of Krishna and on hearing her cry Krishna played an off note.The raga was destroyed. Krishna was enraged by this. He looked at his mother and said there have been 3 occasions where I tried to show you that I am the Supreme. The first time it was when you tied me to the Ural, the second was me eating sand and showing the entire universe and the final one was me taking various forms and stealing butter from all the home. Krishna said you had failed to recognize me in all these 3 instances. Hence from now on you will not have a temple on this earth

 He looked at Tharangini and asked what she wanted. Tharangini replied back saying that she wanted to be something which would always be associated with the Lord. True to His word she was born as the Vrukshika flower in the gardens of Srirangam and to this day adorns the palanquin of Lord Ranganatha. Hence we pray Shri Azhagiya Manavlan to give us a chance to perform seva to the Lord. As Kulasekhara Azhwar says " Yem Peruman pon malai Mel yedhunum Aavanae " (Let me born as something on the sacred Hills of Tirumala).

In 10 days of Adhi brhma Thirunaal   I passed on all the information that I got from Sri Rangam, as and when I received it. Our knowledge is so low and in this condition, all those who enjoyed the festivities with me  by reading my emails amidst all your difficulties and busy schedules,I hope, would have got a near live idea of the grand celebrations in Sri Rangam. I pray for you all and would like to thank you all for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to write about such a grand festival!

 Also, as mentioned yesterday, please try to do some kaigaryam in Sri Rangam - anything like  coconut, ghee lamp, Sugar Crystals(kalkandu), Dry Fruits/ Raisins (draksha). It is never a good practice to go empty handed to the temple. Please do naivedyam samarpanam within your physical, financial and time limits and enjoy His beauty. It is easy for me to write all this but I know how hard it is to buy tickets and reach Sri Rangam and try to worship him among all the rush and politics and people pushing you away while worshipping.

 But I am glad and feel blesses that I am receiving all the photos almost live from there which is what I share with you all. I request you all to please save all the photos I have sent so far and think of Him and perform puja for Him at your Homes with the amount of knowledge you have in it and plan for going to Sri Ranagam when it is feasible and get Ranganatha and thayar's anugraham.

With Acharya's blessings we would be having a peaceful and a prosperous year ahead.I have a request for all the devotees. I am not going ask for your  any thing  and neither does my Azhagiya Manavalan will ask. All I ask you is to take your entire family and visit Srirangam. Take time to enjoy the temple and go to the eastern side of the temple where you can rest and recuperate on under the shades in the cool sand from the riverbed. Have you children write the word " Ranga " on the sands.

Arangan Vazhga, Arangamaanagar VazhgaLet Lord Ranganatha protect usLet Shri Ranganachiyar bless usLet Sri Acharyan guide us I wish to thank  Mr Partha sarathy,  who is son Mr Narasimhan and doing the Kaingayam in Srirangam Temple, and all the people who helped me in compiling the article for sending to Srirangasri group  and

my good wishes to all the people supporting me by giving feedback and encouragement through all these ten days of Adhi Brhma Thirunaal. I I would like to extend my gratitude to Shri Murali Bhattar , (Sri Ranga Pankajam)and Thiruvarangam.com for providing the wonderful pictures especially Mr. Santhana  Krishnan.

 My Saastaanga Pranaams to Sri Venkateswara of Malibu, California under whose shade i have been able to write all these article.Adiyen takes your leave at this point.Vachaka Dhosham ksameekavum!  Adiyen Dashan

Narasimha bhattar --

 

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